Tall Blacks prepared for China challenge
For new Tall Blacks starting centre Jack Salt tomorrow’s Fiba Asian first round qualifier against China can’t come round soon enough.
The University of Virginia senior relished the chance to pull back on his country’s colours in Thursday night’s 124-65 massacre of Hong Kong but like the rest of the Kiwi side he understands full well the real challenge in this short World Cup qualifying window comes in Auckland against a big, well drilled China side.
And, frankly, after having his own way all too easily against a drastically undersized Hong Kong outfit, Salt (nine points, 3/5 FG, seven rebounds, two blocks) is relishing the chance to bang against some genuine big bodies of international hoops.
‘‘It was awesome, just singing the national anthem. I haven’t done that for a long time, looking up at the [New Zealand] flag and not the American flag. It’s pretty good just to represent my country again and get the lungs going,’’ said Salt who hadn’t pulled on the black singlet since before leaving for Virginia at the end of 2014.
‘‘I’m excited [about facing China]. It’s a good challenge for us as a team and me individually. I always take that individual post matchup as a challenge, no matter who I’m playing.’’
Salt, who had his first hitout since Virginia’s shock NCAA tournament first-round exit in March, felt the Tall Blacks ticked most boxes in their Thursday night breezer in Rotorua.
‘‘It was the first game this group had played in a game setting, and it was about just getting connections down, and reads from other people. There’s stuff we can work on at the defensive end but there were a lot of positives and plenty we can take into the game Sunday.’’
Coach Paul Henare will spend less time gazing at an impressive box score from the second Hong Kong massacre and more impressing upon his players the step up in level at Spark Arena tomorrow when a big crowd of close to 8000, including China NBA hoops legend Yao Ming, will roll up.
The Tall Blacks shot the threeball at a red-hot 60 percent against Hong Kong, converted at a 66 percent clip overall, smashed the visitors on the boards (50-14), had six double-figure scorers and 38 assists on 46 made hoops.
But Henare also saw 15 turnovers (‘‘too high in a result like this’’), a few too many ticky-tack fouls for his liking and one or two defensive breakdowns. ‘‘It’s going to be a different beast on Sunday, for sure,’’ he added.
‘‘There will be guys that get shocked at the first few minutes and the difference in ability, intensity and size, and how much tougher those scoring opportunities are going to be.
‘‘We have to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way, still play with the same level of of confidence but understand those open looks are going to be few and far between.’’
Recalled Tall Black Dion Prewster (11 points on 4-of-6 shooting) and the ever-improving Jordan Ngatai (14 points, three rebounds, three assists) were two who took advantage of those open looks and provided key scoring thrust in the absence of the Webster brothers.
‘‘Dion came in and was ready from the get-go,’’ Henare said. ‘‘He was selected on his defensive merits, and he was fantastic defensively. But he also knocked his shot down, and if he can do that he can make the selection panel decision even tougher than what he he already has.
‘‘Jordan just continues to show his growth and improvement on the international level.’’
The Tall Blacks lead Group A with a 4-1 record, while China slipped to 3-2 after their 82-74 defeat in Korea early yesterday (NZT). The Kiwis won the earlier matchup 82-73 in Dongguan in February.
‘‘We have to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way.’’ Coach Paul Henare